Overwintering indoors, dwarf orinoco flowering
 

Hello all,
I don't know if this is a problem or not but here's my situation. I'm in zone 7b and I brought my dwarf orinoco inside for the winter. Even though I've cut back on watering, it has started to flower. I'm not sure that this is desirable during the winter months. I placed my plant in front of a south-facing large window, so it gets plenty of sun. When I noticed the flower bud growing out, I started watering it more and trimming off some of the spent leaves. Should I continue this process and hope to continue the flowering process or should I try to delay it until the weather gets warmer and I can take it outside?

Thanks

Re: Overwintering indoors, dwarf orinoco flowering
 

I'm no expert, but as long as it's in the house and it doesn't go below 50, it should keep growing. I doubt there is any way to delay the flower that is already there!
I would keep moist, not wet, and it should be ok. Just my 2 cents!:0521:
Margie

Re: Overwintering indoors, dwarf orinoco flowering
 

Thank you very much for your reply. I'm new at growing bananas, in fact, this is my first try. I'm very happy about how this one has come along. I've only had it since April, so I figured it wouldn't flower until next summer. Do you think I should fertilize it at all?

Re: Overwintering indoors, dwarf orinoco flowering
 

Does anyone recommend me fertilizing my banana plant while its inside over winter, since it is now flowering?

Re: Overwintering indoors, dwarf orinoco flowering
 

Amaznjohn Lord knows iam brand new to bananas, but i like what mskitty gives hers when they need water. cabbage, spinach, greens in her inside compost. Then i think she uses the water runoff from it when they need a drink. Help me out mskitty.......MG:2218: instead of liquid store bought stuff.

Re: Overwintering indoors, dwarf orinoco flowering
 

Wow! That's what I call dedication.

Re: Overwintering indoors, dwarf orinoco flowering
 

water your tree first. take shredded cabbage, fresh spinach(kind of tear it in small pieces or chop it up finely) mix the cabbage and spinach together and put it around the stalk.( dont let it touch the stalk). this will be absorbed into the ground and this will feed your plant... without chemical ferts. we like happy nanas....not chemically treated nanas.:pinwheelnaner: maybe i need to put this in the recipe thread....lol

Re: Overwintering indoors, dwarf orinoco flowering
 

Hi - I just saw this thread. Congrats on your bloom! I'm interested in seeing how the plant does. I can tell you from personal experience, to make sure you don't overwater. I have yet to have a banana plant make it indoors because I end up watering too much and they get root rot. I am so wishing you luck!!! :0497: :0497: :0497:

Mskitty, you are one true banana plant lover! I'm going to try that composting method. I love being able to share a salad with my plants. :doggyandnaner:

Re: Overwintering indoors, dwarf orinoco flowering
 

the complete story to my crazy composting( according to my children) is on one of the other threads.i have 2 different ways to do it. ill have to find the thread for you so you dont have to go through everyone.i dont mind sharing my salad and fruit with my trees either. ill get back to you on the other.

Re: Overwintering indoors, dwarf orinoco flowering
 

miss anna, it is in the main nana discussion under should i??.i usually do the cabbage and spinach thing once a week, when the other is done thats what i use for the week. happy composting!

Re: Overwintering indoors, dwarf orinoco flowering
 

Thanks, mskitty!!!

Re: Overwintering indoors, dwarf orinoco flowering
 

you are welcome.i got some more of those lil nanas. then went to foodlion and they had organic nanas.had to have some

Re: Overwintering indoors, dwarf orinoco flowering
 

I'm happy to hear about the fertilizing mixture. It sounds interesting. I've always used a chemical fertilizer, so I might try this concoction, if you think I should fertilize it now. It hasn't been fertilized since August.

I'm not sure what "overwatering" is. When I had it outside this summer, I watered it nearly everyday until the pot was full. Now, I water it once a week using approx. 3 gallons of water. It seems to be doing fine. I also make sure that the water is draining well. Here's a picture I just made. Others are in the photo gallery.

Re: Overwintering indoors, dwarf orinoco flowering
 

beautiful tree! i only water mine when i stick my finger 2 inches in the dirt and its dry.if your gonna feed your nana like i do mine,(just cabbage and spinach) and the dirts wet 2 in.down but not on the top of the dirt, just dampen it, dont sog it and place the cabbage and spinach around the stem dont let the veggies touch the stem. when the dirts wet or damp, it speeds up the absorbsion, and your plants eat faster, then if its just dry dirt. if your keeping your tree in the house for the winter and still want it to grow, i would feed it. if its dormant dont feed it. i feed mine 1 time a week. and i switch between the cabbage and spinach, to what ive composted in the kitchen if its ready. so the choice is yours, i can only tell you what i do to mine. i dont know about anybody elses, everybody grows theirs differently:2748: .

Re: Overwintering indoors, dwarf orinoco flowering
 

Thank you for your recommendations and your help. I'm hoping to get this one to fruit inside this winter, so I will be fertilizing it.

Re: Overwintering indoors, dwarf orinoco flowering
 

MSKITTY, Iam a lil confused! You do do this fertilizing in the winter as well as Summer months, correct? But in the winter the soil for our nannas is in the pot. Are you saying "dig down abt 1 finger or so and put the cabbage and spinach and other green stuff below the dirt line,cover it up, and there you have it? Iam slow , or maybe just new ,help me out. I Love these plants, and WILL grow them by any means neccessary!!!!!!:2124: MG

Re: Overwintering indoors, dwarf orinoco flowering
 

ok, mg...to make sure i dont over water, i stick my finger into the dirt 2 inches. if the dirt 2 inches deep is wet, i dont water, but if the top layer of the dirt is dry, dampen(do not sog) the top layer of dirt, and then put the cabbage and spinach on top of the dampened dirt. i dont cover the veggies up, i leave it in the open air. sometimes i dont clairify myself to well enough. i havent had my nanas but for 3 months. mine are in the house. they are still little so i dont intend to put them outside for a long while. all of mine are in pots. im trying to get them to grow so they wont take so long to grow in the spring.

Re: Overwintering indoors, dwarf orinoco flowering
 

I have read carefully the recipe for mskitty but my small goats have managed to enter the garden and ate my cabbages.

I think the "fertilizer" of small goats will be good for my nanas Helen's Hybrid :camelnaner:

Paolo

Re: Overwintering indoors, dwarf orinoco flowering
 

Continuing saga. Since I'm new at growing bananas, how long should I wait to harvest them?

Re: Overwintering indoors, dwarf orinoco flowering
 

your goats ate your cabbage???? do i smell bbq sauce? im just kidding!!!:jumpingonbednaner:. that was good even got my child to laugh.and i think your goats"fertilizer" would be good. still find that funny. i got out the food processor tonight, since the temp outside has been good i turned the heat off in the house and my compost stuff isnt curing right. so had to chop it up green and put it where the sun can get it in the morning. nana peals and tangerine peals smell really good when you buzz them up.